There may be reason for them to be optimistic. As SCOTUSblog pointed out, the majority’s opinion pointedly leaves open “the question of whether the Government has a similarly compelling interest in preventing discrimination on the basis of sex or sexual orientation.”

With respect to implications for other kinds of religious-based discrimination, the Court writes that racial discrimination in hiring will not be permitted under RFRA because “The Government has a compelling interest in providing equal opportunity to participate in the workforce without regard to race, and prohibitions on racial discrimination are precisely tailored to acheive [sic] that critical goal.” Note that this leave open the question of whether the Government has a similarly compelling interest in preventing discrimination on the basis of sex or sexual orientation.